Tides win two of three behind Tingos' heroics

ERIC SUCAR staff Monmouth University's Mike Casale, who is playing for the Toms River Black Sox this summer, locks in on a pitch during the ABCCL all-star game at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood on Thursday.

The Jersey Shore Tides took two of three games this past weekend, trumping the Middletown Monarchs on Saturday in a 13-9 victory and splitting a doubleheader on Sunday with the defending league champions, the Freehold Clippers.

The Tides had to come from behind in both of their victories. On Saturday, after four innings, the Tides were down 3-2 to the Monarchs as Staten Island's Gerard Tingos (Long Island University) came to plate with one out and Paramus's Marc Palestina (Montclair State University) on base with a walk. Facing Fair Haven's Pat Lehman (George Washington University), who was on the mound for the Monarchs, Tingos proceeded to put the Tides in the lead with a two-run homer over the right field fence.

The Tides were confident they would hold the 4-3 lead as Lincroft's Dan Anderson (TCNJ) retired the Monarchs easily in his first two innings, but the defense fell apart in the sixth as the Monarchs combined a few hits with six errors to bring six unearned runs across the plate for a 9-4 lead. The Tides came back with a run to cut the lead to 9-5 as they went into the eighth inning. Wildness by the Monarchs pitchers would help the Tides, as two walks were followed by Matawan's Vin Avella's (Wagner College) double. A hit batter, another walk, and a single by Bridgewater's Greg DeSantis (Long Island University) tied the game at 9-9. Another walk brought Gerard Tingos back to the plate with the go-ahead run on third base and the bases fully loaded with still only one out. Tingos showed his first long ball of the season was no fluke as he crushed a grand slam homer over the right-center field fence, putting the Tides in front for good, 13-9. Hampton's Dan Ramos-Dominko (TCNJ) shut down the Monarchs over the last three innings with no runs, no hits, and three strikeouts to secure the come from behind victory for the Tides.

On Sunday, the Tides split their doubleheader with the Freehold Clippers, winning the first game 4-3 behind the pitching of Chatham's Mike Ness (Duke University) and Westwood's Tim Klein (RPI). The Clippers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with several seeing-eye base hits combined with a throwing error on the catcher. They added another unearned run in the fifth to build a 3-0 lead. The Tides offense was held in check until the seventh when after a walk and single, Staten Island's Frank DiMasi (Long Island University) hit a game tying, three-run homer. Klein held the Clippers in check over the final innings without allowing a run, providing the Tides with the opportunity to take the lead. In the eighth, Farmington, CT's Mike McGuire (St. Peter's College) singled and stole second base to get into scoring position. Oakhurst's Greg Spatz (Felician College) proceed to knock in McGuire with a base hit up the middle, giving the Tides a 4-3 lead they would hold onto as Klein closed out the game.

In the second game, the Tides could not mount a come from behind finish, and lost to the Clippers 9-7. The Clippers took an early 9-6 lead that they would protect. Paramus' Marc Palestina (Montclair State University) and Nutley's Vin Sangemino (Rutgers University) provided the offense for the Tides. Palestina was 3-for-4 with a double and Sangemino was 2-for-3 with a double and hit by pitch. Hazlet's Sean Donovan (Stockton State College) and Long Valley's William Schmolze (County College of Morris) pitched shutout innings for the Tides to keep the game within striking distance, but the Tides could not come from behind and took the loss.

Tomorrow night, the Tides will take on the Wall Angels at Holmdel High School, before hosting the Toms River Black Sox on Sunday in a doubleheader. On Tuesday they will take on the Protocall Starz in the regular season finale.

The ABCCL playoffs begin next Thursday with the first round. The top four teams in the league qualify for the playoffs, and following this weekend's activity, the Tides were in good shape in third place with a 17-11 record. The Manchester Yankees (17-7) hold a two-game lead over both the Tides and the Protocall Starz (16-10) heading into this week's action.

The Middletown Monarchs (12-9) and the Black Sox (12-10) appear to be the two teams battling for the final playoff spot.